MY EXPLANATION OF GOHAN'S STRENGTH IN DBS: SUPER HERO
There are a few official statements, but I'm just giving my own explanation based off of DB lore, how Gohan's potential unleashed form was explained in the manga & anime, what Gohan's true power has been described to be in the series, & what was said/implied about Gohan's power in DBS: Super Hero & interviews for the film. So, let's see if I can get it correct (or at least close) before we get an official explanation.
Obviously it's not "Gohan Blanco." Ppl just call it that to associate it to something that fans created and to use key words to get ppl's attention.
• Gohan Blanco: white hair and blue eyes.
• Gohan Beast: light gray hair and red irises.
Similarities are there of course, but there were also fans who came up with the name "Super Saiyan God" years before Battle of Gods debuted, as well as fans who made blue haired SSJ designs before SSB.
HOW POTENTIAL UNLEASHED WORKS:
The power that the Namekian Great Elder (Elder Guru) awakened for Gohan on Namek was only Gohan's own latent potential. Nothing extra.
However, Elder Kai's ritual was able to draw out hidden abilities far beyond ones own potential.
This is part of the reason why Potential Unleashed Gohan can become so strong over a short period of time.
Gohan's potential & abilities were already great. And now, thanks to Elder Kai, Gohan's potential has been advanced far beyond his normal limits.
[FORESHADOWING]
In DBS EP 90, a motivated Gohan tells Goku that he is striving for an ultimate form that nobody has seen before.
(This episode aired in 2017; the same year that Toriyama began to think up a script for DBS: Super Hero. Wether this is simply a coincidence or on purpose is unknown for now. But, it is intriguing.)
Then, during the final battle in DBS: Super Hero, Gohan charged up his ki to the max & his rage triggered a new transformation.
A new ultimate form is teased in the DBS anime continuity. ✔
DBS: Super Hero teases at how strong Gohan could be if he kept training (Gohan had actually been training in secret). ✔
And at the end of Super Hero, Gohan achieves a new ultimate form that no one has ever seen before. (DBS movies take place in the DBS anime continuity.) ✔
There are those who say that Gohan's new form resembles Future Trunks' Rage form. And it kinda does. However, Trunks' Super Saiyan Rage form is a "Super Saiyan transformation." On the other hand, Gohan Beast IS NOT a Super Saiyan transformation. It's the beastly rage that Gohan has had since he was a small child, but now combined with his Potential Unleashed power.
(This "Beast" form also has similarities to Broly's ability to use his Oozaru power in his base form.)
It's obvious that the "Beast" transformation is a homage to pre-teen Gohan transforming into SSJ2, BUT... Gohan Beast is also a homage to kid Gohan transforming into an Oozaru.
Gohan has always had 2 things.
Amazing potential due to Earthling potential mixed with Saiyan abilities.
His inner-beast that resurfaces from great rage.
[THE INNER-BEAST]
Gohan's inner-beast has always been a part of him. We've see it come forth when he was a child, a pre-teen, & again as an adult in Super Hero.
MASTERED SSJ Gohan:
SSJ power controlled to the point that it's as if it was Gohan's base form.
SUPER SAIYAN 2 Gohan:
The transformed state of Super Saiyan triggered by Gohan's rage that resulted in his inner-beast (his true power) being released while in his Super Saiyan form.
POTENTIAL UNLEASHED Gohan:
Gohan's latent potential released without the need to transform into a Super Saiyan + power & abilities beyond his normal limits .
BEAST UNLEASHED Gohan:
Ultimate Gohan's non-Super Saiyan transformation triggered by rage. Gohan's inner-beast (his true power) that enjoys battle is once again released.
SSJ2 Gohan & BEAST Gohan:
Gohan could still use the SSJ2 power as an adolescent & adult, but Gohan did not have the same beast-like rage as he did when he first transformed into SSJ2. Nor did he want to become like that again.
But, in DBS: Super Hero when Ultimate Gohan snaps, his inner-beast awakens again.
As a pre-teen, Gohan's awakened inner-beast/his true power was something terrifying to everyone. He became very demented, lost control of himself, & went berserk.
As an adult in Super Hero, we see Gohan's malicious personality resurface again as he begins to lose himself in battle before Gohan regains his focus & controls his inner-beast. (Then, Gohan quickly ends Cell Max instead of toying with his enemy as he had done before against Perfect Cell.)
POWER LEVEL: 💪
Power level wise, Gohan's new beast form is stronger than Goku's Super Saiyan forms.
Ultimate Gohan in DBS was able to compete with SSB Goku. So at that point, Gohan was at least in a realm of power similar to SSB & above SSG. With how Gohan's rage filled transformations work, Gohan always skyrockets in power. So, its easy to understand that Gohan Beast is stronger than SSB and SSBKK.
But, just like Gohan Beast, Ultra Instict IS NOT a Super Saiyan form. From what we've been shown, UI Goku is stronger than Gogeta Blue and Full Power Super Saiyan Broly. Ultra Instinct is in a higher realm of power above SSB, just as how SSG was in a higher realm of power above SSJ Gogeta/SSJ Vegito.
So, simply put...
Ultra Instinct Goku > Beast Unleashed Gohan > Super Saiyan Blue Goku > Potential Unleashed Gohan > Super Saiyan God Goku > Super Saiyan 1-3 transformations.
DESIGN INFLUENCE: 🎨
• Designed to resemble pre-teen Gohan's SSJ2 form (possibly suggesting that SSJ2 Gohan looks that way due to his inner-beast awakening in SSJ form).
• Homage to the limited color SSJ design (white hair & red eyes).
• Gohan gains pupils while in his new form, similar to how SSJ3 has pupils & the previous SSJ forms do not.
• Gohan's hair grows longer similar to SSJ3 & stands upwards.
This form also resembles the scrapped design for SSJ3 Goku. The hair grows longer and is slanted back & upwards.
MY THOUGHTS ON THE FORM:
Although, I do understand why SSJ2 was referenced for Gohan Beast, I'm just not a big fan of the SSJ2 callback & the really long hair. But, it's not terrible & I don't dislike it as much as some ppl do. I'm kinda on the fence with how I feel about it. It could've been better, but I think parts of it was good. I like the outline around the eyes, the red irises, & the slight eyebrow change.
I personally would've referenced SSJ2 a bit less & referenced a bit more how kid Gohan looked mid Oozaru transformation.
In my interpretation of Gohan Beast, the form would pay more homage to how kid Gohan looked when he was in mid-transformation into an Oozaru
[PICCOLO'S SIMILAR POWER]
There are no official statements yet. I'm just giving my own explanation based off of DB lore, Japanese mythology, & what was said/implied i
The Potential Unleashed forms appear to release power that's hidden within a person to push them beyond their limits. As well as awakening their inner-beast.
UNLEASHED POTENTIAL: Ultimate Gohan & Ultimate Piccolo.
INNER-BEAST/DEMON: Gohan Beast & Orange Piccolo.
